Horseshoe Lake (Madison County)
Horseshoe Lake is an old floodplain lake formed from an abandoned river channel within Horseshoe Lake State Park near Granite City in Madison County. The lake is managed by IDNR for fishing and waterfowl hunting, with boat fishing allowed except during waterfowl season.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Largemouth Bass
Weeds, docks and wood in the shallows.
Crappie
Brush piles, docks and standing timber. Minnows or small jigs.
Bluegill
Weed beds and shallow flats in late spring.
Channel Catfish
Cut bait and nightcrawlers on flats and creek mouths in the evening.
Boat launches
2 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.
- Horseshoe Lake State Park main boat rampRampNorth shore inside the park; IDNR lists two public ramps; 3321 Hwy 111, Granite CityDirections ↗
- More public accessPublicSee the IDNR or lake website for all ramps and feesDirections ↗
Size & creel limits
Minimum size and daily limit for each species in Horseshoe Lake (Madison County) are published by the state. Look up the current size and creel limits for this lake directly: Illinois Department of Natural Resources ↗
Bait & tackle nearby
No shops listed yet for this lake. Use the search link below.
Search more bait shops near Horseshoe Lake (Madison County) ↗Local tips
- Two pole-and-line fishing only; boat fishing is not allowed during waterfowl season.
- Trotlines must be set within 300 feet of shore.
- The Stock Pond closes for a fishing derby on Sept 17-19, 2026 (check park for later dates).
View on interactive map
Zoom and pan on a street, satellite or terrain map. Red pins are boat launches.
More Illinois lakes
Lake Shelbyville Fox Chain O'Lakes Crab Orchard Lake Clinton Lake Lake Springfield Lake Decatur Kinkaid Lake Horseshoe Lake (Alexander County) All Illinois lakes →
Always wear a life jacket and check your state's current regulations before you fish.